Mayor John Tory and Councillor Jaye Robinson (Ward 25 Don Valley West), Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, today marked the launch of the new Green Bins in Scarborough, the first community to receive deliveries. The bins will be distributed city-wide over a period of 18 months. New Green Bins are required because the original curbside bins had a 10-year life expectancy, and are now past their expiry date. Old bins will be collected and recycled.

"Today we are following through on our commitment to deliver residents a new and improved Green Bin. They are easier for residents to use, weather-proof, hold more organics, and are suitable for automated collection," said Mayor John Tory. “The design of the new Green Bins debut the latest technology to improve animal resistance. With the rollout of these new Green Bins, we mark the beginning of a spring 2016 offensive against raccoon nation.”

Field testing demonstrated the ability to stop raccoons from getting into the bin. This allows residents to both store their Green Bins outside and put them out the evening before collection with the lid locked. The bins automatically unlock when dumped into the truck.

"The new Green Bins enhance our ability to divert organics from landfill, building upon our leading status as the operators of North America's largest successful organics collection program," said Councillor Robinson.

The style and size of the bin allows for automated/semi-automated collection and aligns with the City's switch to automated recycling and garbage collection – offering more efficient, effective and safer service than manual collection. There are no changes to the Green Bin program. The bins are expected to last for approximately 20 years and there is a 10-year maintenance contract. After deliveries are completed in Scarborough, they will begin in Etobicoke, followed by North York and finish in Toronto/East York. More information, including a map indicating the weekly delivery progress, is available at http://www.toronto.ca/greenbin. Information about the features and usage of the new Green Bins is available at http://ow.ly/4nch84.

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